Archive for: October 2013

Dear Knox County Schools’ Families,

We are well into our school year, and as I continue to visit classrooms and solicit teacher feedback, I see creative and engaging instruction, growth of personalized learning environments and full implementation of Common Core State Standards. This process also reminds me of an important aspect of education: To educate the whole child, instruction in the classroom must be supported and reinforced in communities and at home.

The Knox County Schools has numerous services that can help parents and caregivers provide a supportive learning environment at home. Visit our web site at knoxschools.org and click on “Parents” for more information.

Also, please make note of our annual Parent Conference on October 12, 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at Central High School, which is located at 5321 Jacksboro Pike. This year the parent conference will be combined with the Knox County Schools Transition Fair for parents of students with disabilities. The event is free of charge, and child care for ages 3-11 is provided by Shades of Development at no cost with advance registration. Registration ends on October 7, so register today at engagement.knoxschools.org. Special thanks to Knoxville Parent magazine for their sponsorship and support of this year’s event.

In the spirit of educating the whole child, the Parent Conference and Transition Fair will offer parents and caregivers information on many aspects of parenting and supporting their students at home. Workshop presenters will share information on topics including these:

Building good study habits

Helping students with homework

Preparing for kindergarten and college

Understanding social media

Identifying bullying

Helping struggling learners at home

Finding community resources

Managing difficulties

Preparing for Individual Education Program meetings

Creating a meaningful life

Understanding special needs trusts and conservatorship

And many more topics.

Additionally, the keynote address, Resilience: How to Give Kids this Key to Success, will be presented by respected family physician and childcare advocate, Deborah Gilboa, M.D., and a general session will provide parents with easy-to-understand information about the Common Core State Standards.

New this year at the conference is a Parent Help Desk area. In the library at Central High School, experts from various specialties at the Knox County Schools will be available for face-to-face interaction with parents. They will be ready to discuss topics including middle and high school transitions; advanced and dual enrollment classes; identifying learning disabilities; finding scholarships; navigating technology in the Knox County Schools; and more. I believe this addition to the Parent Conference and Transition Fair will help parents overcome any barriers to student learning and success.

We work diligently every day to provide an excellent education for every child, and we want to encourage parents and other members of the community to provide input into our strategic planning process for the next five years. Through October, we will reach out to our students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders to ask what’s good; what’s not; and what’s next?

We want to learn how you believe the schools performed during the past five years, where you see challenges and what the Knox County Schools should focus on for the next five years to reach excellence for every child.

Strategic Planning Meetings, called Insight Sessions, are scheduled for the following times and places, and child care will be provided. I invite you to attend and provide your insight:

October 3 – 6 p.m. at South-Doyle Middle School (3900 Decatur Road)

October 7 – 6 p.m. at Carter Middle School (204 North Carter School Road)

Additionally, to follow the progress of the strategic planning process, “follow” on Twitter at @knoxschools2020, and stay updated by visiting knoxschools2020.org. You also can e-mail your input to knoxschools2020@knoxschools.org.

Educating the whole child is a complex process but one that, with perseverance and purpose, brings powerful results.

As always, thank you for your support of our students, teachers and principals. With your help, we can achieve our very ambitious goal of Excellence for All Children.

By Tracey Matthews, Knox County Schools Supervisor of Family and Community Engagement

Contributing Writer: Mary Frances Street, Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement, University of Tennessee Student Intern

Children learn in different ways, and frustration can occur when the right learning style is not accommodated. Learning styles can include auditory, visual and kinesthetic learning, as well as others.

Here are a few ways to create a supportive environment at home to encourage your child’s learning style and help develop his knowledge to the fullest:

Auditory Learning Style

Auditory learners learn best when they hear information. In the classroom, they respond to lectures, as well as classroom and small group discussions. Ways you can help your auditory learner at home include these: Read more →